Change-speed mechanism.



A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED'NIECHANISM. APPucATloN HLVED APR.6,1914.

1,169,388. Patented Jan. 25, 1916. s sHEETswsHEET 1.

A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED MECHANISNI.

APPucATxoN EILED APR.6,1914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

EWE-69938* s SHEETS- HEET 2 A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM;

APPLICATION FILED APII. s. I9I4.

1,169,388.. III-@med Jan. 25,1916.

I ssIIEETs-sIIEI-:T 3.

1HE coLuMI/I PLANOGRAPM cu., vIA-sHmuToN. D. c.

A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. e. I9I4.

1,169,388. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M@ Saas: Iwwen??? A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APII. s, I9I4.

ml/QM A. FAY.

CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1914.

1,169,388. Ptented Jan. 25, 1916.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Figi 6L Witnesses:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII co., wASHINToN, D. C.

ALPHEUS FAY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CHANGE-SPEED MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application'led April 6, 1914. Serial No. 829,981.

T all whom it may concern Be it kn'own that I, ALPHEUS FAY, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Change-Speed Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gearing and its object is to secure a relatively large number of changes of speed in the driving of mechanisms of various kinds with a relatively small number of parts whereby the mechanism is correspondingly simple, economical in construction. and convenient in use.

My invention consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be'more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a device embodying my invention in which two sets of gears are used, one set with two pairs and the other with three pairs of gears; Fig. 2 is a section on a line corresponding to the line -x of Fig. 1 looking toward the left; Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section showing part of the device, the section being taken on a line corresponding to the line y-g/ of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking toward the right, Fig. is a vertical cross section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification in which but one set of five pairs of gears is used; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section on a line corresponding to the line m-m of Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the work or driven shaft 1 is jou'rnaled in bearings 2 and 3` and between these bearings has the two spur gears 4 and 5 fixed together and coaxial on said shaft 1, with a key 6 fixed in them and projecting into a keyway 7 in the shaft 1 which keyway is long enough to allow the gears to slide over one-half the width of oneof the gears in either direction froma mid-position, the gears 4 and 5 being of equal width. A lay shaft S is journaled parallel with driving shaft 1 in bearings 9, 10 and 11, thus extending the full length of the device.` Betweengthe bearings y9and 10 this lay shaftA 8 hastWointe'rmediate gears 12k and 13 fixed together and coaxial 'on this ,shaftS' with a gkjey; 14` fixed in themfandprojecting into agkeyway :15 y{insaid shaft S'of suchlength that. these two gears :12 fand-13 mayfslide in:y eitherrdirection fromrmidposie tion half the width of one of the gears, said two gears being of equal width.

Between the bearings 10 and 11 this lay shaft has three other intermediate gears 16,

17 and 18 fixed together and coaxial on said shaft 3 with a key 19 fixed in them and projecting into a keyway 20 in said shaft 8 of sufficient length to allow the three gears to slide in either direction from mid-position the f ull width of one of the gears, said three gears being of equal width. A driving shaft 21 is journaled in bearings 22 and 23 in alinement with work or driven shaft 1 and consequently parallel with the lay shaft 8. Between bearings 22 and 23 this driving shaft 21 has the three driving gears 24, 25 and 26 fixed together and coaxial on said shaft 21 with a key 27 fixed in them and projecting into a keyway 28 in said driving shaft 21 of sufficient length to allow said three driving gears to slide in either direction from mid-position the full width of one of these gears, said three gears being of equal width. Thus arranged, it is possible to bring either one of the gears 4 or 5 radially in alinement with either one of the gears 12 and 13 and it is possible to bring any one of the three gears 16, 17 and 18 radially in alinement with any one of the three gears 24, and 26. The diameters of the various gears thus brought opposite to each other is so limited that none of them can mesh together, it being the purpose of the invention to merely bring such gears opposite in order to mesh an idler gear with them. The mountings of such idler gears will be later described.

In order that the gears 4 and 5 may be moved simultaneously with the gears 12 and 13 but in opposite directions, the gears 4 and 5 are provided with a fork 29 with hubs 30 to flank the gears 4 and 5 and to slide on the shaft 1 and move said gears sidewise, as described, and a fork 31 with hubs 32 flanking the gears 12 and 13, slides on `shaft S to move the gears 12 and 13 sidewise. These forks 29 and 31 have studs `33v and 34, respectively,Y and la lever 35'has apivot`36 mounted"finY lthe, base '37 ofthe casingx equally distant from they -centerlines of the shafts liand 8 ,andf slotsf 39 and vided 4in said` lever to receive; 'the jstudsf3 j and.34,frespectively.- .Said leverm35lha 'f' handle 41 that projectsfout throughjugx pt 42f`in theifside of" the casing-fl38k f'tlloseito the? fri) 38 and thus hold the lever 35 stationary in any one of three positions. This detent 43 is normally held down in any one of the Vsockets by a helical spring 48 confined' around the detent between the under side ofthe lever and a flange 49 on the detent.

To lift the detent out of the socket, a detent lever 50 has a fulerum 51 on the lower side of the lever 35 close to the pivotl 36, on the Vopposite side fromthe Vdetent 43, and is recessed around the mounting of the pivot 36 and has a slot 52 through which the detent extends into its sockets, with the flange 49 bearinO against the upper side of this detent lever 50. A stirrup 53, fixed to the lever v35, receives and guides the outer end of the de tent rlever 50 outside the casing 38. Thus, the gears may be manipulated by grasping .the handle 41 and the free end of the detent lever 507 pulling the detent lever upward and releasing therdetent 43 from thesocket, and then swinging the lever 35 in the proper direction. The parts are so arranged that when the detent 4.3 is in the middle socket 45, gears 4 and 12 will be opposite and gears 5 Yand 13 will be Opposite; when the detent is in the socket 44, gears 4 and 13 will be opposite; and when the detent is in the socket 46,.gears 5 and 12 will be opposite.

The gears 16, 17 and 18 have a fork V54 with hubs 55 and 56 flanking said gearsand sliding on the shaft 8 .to move the gears sidewise, as above described, and the gears 24, 25 and 26 have a fork 57 with hubs 58 and 59 flanking the gears and slidable on the driving shaft 21 to slide said gears sidewise as has been described. These forks 54 and 57 have studs 60 and 61, respectively, anda lever62 similar to the lever 35 has a pivot 63 in the base 37 of the casing 38, equally distant from the center lines of the shafts 8 and 21, and slots 64 and 65 are provided in this lever to receive the studs 60 and 61, respectively. The lever has a handle 66 projecting outside the casing 38 through a slot 67, and has a detent 68 to enter any one of five sockets 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 in a boss on the base 37 ,ofl the casing 38. This detent 68 is held down by a helical spring 74 around the detent between the lower side of the lever 62 and a fiange 75 on the detent 68, and a detent lever 76 with a fulcrum 77 and a rslot 78 through which the detent 68 extends, is guided in a stirrup 79 on thelever 62. Thus, these gears may be shifted in the same manner as that described for shifting the other gears, with the exception that there are five positions instead of three. By these means, in the first position, as shown in Fig. 2, gears 16 and 24, 17 and 25, and 18 and 26 areY opposite, respectively. In the rst posijtionito the left, l` ;ears17 2 4 and "18 and 25 will be opposite; and in the next position to the left gears 18 and 24 will be opposite.

and 25 and gears 17 and 26 will be opposite;

' and in the next position to the right gears tions of the gears, an idler gear 80 is provided; and tomesh with the gears 16 and 24, 17. and 25,-18 and 26, 18 and 25, 17 and 24, Y18 land 24, 16 and`25, 17 and 26, Gr.16 and 26.anidler gear 81'is provided.

A yoke 82 slides parallel with the shafts 1, 8 and 21, on bars 83and 84 fixed in the casing 38 and has an index plate85 projecting out through a wide slot 86 in the front of the casing 38. Pivoted onthis indexplat-e is a detent 87 with a vhandle 88 and this detent is pressed down by a flat spring 89 and enters notches in a boss 90 on the front of the casing so vas Y to hold the yoke 82 against movement along its bars 83 and 84. `The idler gear 81fturns on a stud 91 fixed in an arm 92 which has a pivot 93 on the end of a. link 94 that is pivoted on a sleeve 95 onthe yoke 82 around the bar 83 on which the yoke slides. The free end of the arm 92 extends. outside the y casing through the slot 86 alongside the index plate 85 yand 'is' guided for swingingl in a .vertical plane by a stirrup V96 on the side of the' yoke 82. 'Ihis'indexl plate 85 has a series o-f nine recesses'or 'sockets `97, 98, 99,

kcessesor socketsare so positioned in the index plate 85 that the nine different positions given to the arm 92, and consequently to the idlergear8l, will. bring said idler gear into its proper position to mesh with the Vdesired pair of gears broughtopposite in any one of the five positions of the'lever'35, Vas above described. 1

The idler gear 80 has a yoke 107 that also slides on the bars 83 and 84. This yoke has an index plate 108 projecting ont throughl a wide slot 109 in the front ofthe casing 38. T he detent 110 is pivoted on this index plate, with a handle 111, and `is pressed down by the flatspring 112 and enters notches in a boss 113 on the front of the casing, to hold theyoke 107 stationary in' any one of its three adjustments lengthwise of the bars 83 and Y84. The idler gear 80 turns on ka stud 114, fixed in an arm 115, which arm is connected by the pivot 116 to the link 117 ,this

In theffir'st position' to the right, gears 16 enters notches in a boss 185 on the top ofthe casing, so as to hold the yokeA 177 against movementvalongits bars 178 and `179. The

` idler gear 186* turns on a stud 187 fixed in l extension 192 past the stud 187 onwhich the idler gear 186 yis mounted, and this extension 192'is inclined upward at a lconsiderable angle from the arm 188 and extends outside the casing through the slot 181 alongside the index plate 180;'and is guided for swinging in a vertical planeby a stirrup 193 on the side of the yoke 177, thus guiding the entire arm 188 and the idler gear 186 mounted thereon.v T he index plate 180 Vhas a series of twenty-ivelrecesses or sockets 194C, 195, 19e, 197, 19s, 199, A200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205,206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 and 218, and the extension ',192 ofthe arm 188 has a detent 219 which is adapted to enter any one of these recesses or sockets, accordingly as the arm 188 is swung up' and down orbackward rand forward-by virtue of its mounting with the link 190. rlChe recesses or sockets are so positioned in the index plate 180 that the twenty-five different positions given to the arm 188, and, consequently, to the idler gear- 186, will bring said idler gear into its proper position to mesh with the desired pair of gears brought opposite in any one of the nine positions of the lever 152 as above described. The driving shaft 126 has a pulley 220, through which the power may be applied to the mechanism.

From the, foregoing description it will be seen that twenty-five different speeds may be obtained directly without combining the ratios of two dierent sets of gears as in the previous example, while involving-the use of only eleven gears, and employing no clutch, and the manipulative mechanism isv limited to one gear shifting lever, one idler gear shifting bracket and the armvcarrying the idler gear on the bracket.

.My device is applicable toany kind of machinery where it is desirable to easilyVV and quickly make changes of speed with the drivin'gsiaft run at a constant speed. 1t

is possible to make these changes of speedwithout stopping the machine, since the idler gears may be unineshed and raised to their highest positions, then the other gears moved to their proper relativepositions, and the idler gears then dropped into mesh.

Having fully described my invention, what v1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n cliange-speed mechanism, the combination of two sets of gears on parallel axes and an idler gear, eachV gear of a set being of a different diameter, and supporting means for said sets of gears and said idler gear whereby the gears of both sets are slidable axially, so thatany gear of either set may be brought'opposite any gear of the other set, and whereby the idler gear is adjustable' axiallyand transversely and permitted to mesh with any two of all of the gears ofthe respective sets. l'

2. In change-speed mechanism, the combination of two sets of gears on parallel axes and an idler gear, each gear ofa set being of a .different diameter, and means for varying the relative positions of' said gears and said idlergear, wherebythe idler gear is ineshed with any two of all of said gears of the respective sets. Y

3. 1n changewspeed mechanism, the combination of two sets of gears on parallel axes,

each gear of a set being of diiferent diameter, Y

and the gears of both sets being slidable axially, manipulative means for sliding the gears ofthe respective setsA simultaneously in opposite directions, an idler gear, and supporting means for the idler gear whereby it may be adjusted to mesh with different combinations'of the gears of the two sets when said gears are given different relative positions as moved by said manipulative means. 'f

l. In ychange-speed mechanism, the combi,r

nation oftwo sets of gears on parallel axes, each gearof a set being of different diameter, and the gears of both sets Vbeing slidable axially, :manipulative means f for sliding the gears ofthe respective sets simultaneously in` opposite directions, an idler gear, and supporting means for said idler gear wherebyv for sliding the gears on the respective shaftsk simultaneously in opposite directions, Y an .idler gear, a yoke slidable parallel with said shafts, a :link pivoted to slide with said yoke, any arm pivoted to saidv link, supporting means'for said idler gear on :said arm, and means for Yholding said arm stationaryV in dilferent positions ,with respect to said yoke, as the arm swings on and'with said link.

6. Inchange-speedmechanism,the combiv nation ofV two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of said shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of Vdifferent diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, manipulative means for sliding the gears on the respective shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, an

i,iee,ess

idler' gear, a yoke slidable parallelwithsaid shafts, a link pivoted to slide with said yoke, an arm pivoted to said link, supporting means for said idler gear on said arm, means for holding said arm stationary in oii'ferent positions with respect to said yoke, as the arm swings on and with said linkl i means to hold said yoke stationary.

7. ln change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of said shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of dierent diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, manipulative means for sliding the gears on the respective shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, an idler gear, a yoke slidable parallel with said shafts, a link pivoted to slide with said yoke, an arm pivoted to said link, supporting means for said idler gear on said arm, means for holding said arm stationa y in dierent positions with respect to said yoke, as the arm swings on and with said link, means to Y hold said yoke stationary, and means to guide said swinging of said arm with respect to said yoke.

8. In change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of said shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of dierent diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, manipulative means for sliding the gears on the respective shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, an idler gear, a yoke slidable parallel with said. shafts, a link pivoted to slide with said yoke, an arm pivoted to said link, supporting means for said idler gear on said arm, means for holding said arm .stationary in different positions with respect to said yoke, as the arm swings on and with said link, means to hold said yoke stationary, means to guide said swinging of said arm with respect to said yoke, and means to hold said yoke stationary.

9. ln change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of said shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of different diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, manipulative means for sliding the gears on the respective shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, an idler gear, a yoke slidable parallel with said shafts, a link pivoted to slide with said yoke, an arm pivoted near one of its ends on said link, a detent on the arm near its other end, supporting means for said idler gear on said arm intermediate of the ends of the arm, means on said yoke to guide the swinging of said arm upon and with said link, and an index plate on said yoke, having means with which the detent of the arm engages to hold the arm in various positions within the range of its swinging.

l0. ln change-spee l mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of said shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of different diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, manipulative means for sliding the gears on the respective shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, an idler gear, a yoke slidable parallel with said shafts, a link pivoted to. slide with said yoke, an arm pivoted near one of its ends on said link, a detent on the arm near its other end, supporting means for said idler gear on said arm intermediate of the ends of the am, means on said yoke to guide the s Tinging of said arm upon and with said link, an index plate on said yoke, having means with which the detent of the arm engages to hold the arm in various positions within the range of its swinging, a. stationary part on said mechanism, and a detent pivoted on said index plate and engaging with said stationary part.

ll. ln change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of the shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of different diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, brackets engaging the gears on the respective shafts to slide them along the shaft, a lever, a pivot for the level' midway between the center lines of the two shafts, and articulated connections between said lever and the respective brackets, an idler gear, and means for adjusting Ysaid idler gear with respect to said gears on said shafts, to mesh with different combinations of these gears as they are slid along their respective shafts.

l2. ln change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality of gears on one of the shafts, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said shaft, a plurality of gears on the other shaft, each of different diameter, these gears being slidable along this shaft, brackets engaging the gears on the respective shafts to slide them along the shaft, a lever, a pivot for the lever midway between the center lines of the two shafts, and articulated connections between said lever and the respective brackets, means for holding said lever stationary in different positions, an idler gear, and means for adjusting said idler gear with respect tok said gears on said shafts, to mesh with dierent combinations of these gears as they are slid along their respective shafts.

13. ln change-speed mechanism, the combination of two parallel shafts, a plurality gear, supporting means for said idler gear,

and means for adjusting said supporting means, whereby said idler gear is adjusted axially and transversely, to mesh with different combinations of said gears on said shafts as they are slid along their respective shafts. j

14k. ln'change-speed mechanism, the combination of two sets of gears in axial alinement, each gear of a set being of different diameter, a set of gears on an axis parallelV to those of the alined sets, each gear of this set being of different diameter, and being adjustable axially, some of them being adapted to be brought opposite the gears of one of the alined sets, and some of them being adapted to be brought opposite the gears of the other 4alined' set, idler gears, each one of which is adjacent to a respective one of said alined sets, and means for adjusting said idler gears whereby each one may be meshed with different combinations of the gears of the adjacent alined set. and the gears opposite on the parallel axis.

V15. In change-speed mechanism, the combination of two sets of gears in axial aline ment, and a set of gears on an axis parallel to those of the alined sets, each gear of each of said sets being of a different diameter, and being adjustable axially, some of the gears on the parallel axis being adapted to be brought opposite the gears of onev of the alined sets, and some of them being adapted to be brought opposite the gears of the'other alined set, manipulative means for sliding the gearsY of the respective opposite sets simultaneously in opposite directions, idler gears, each one of which is adjacent to a respective one of said alined sets, and means for adjusting said idler gears whereby each one may be meshed with different combinations ofthe gears of the adjacent alined set and the gears opposite on the parallel axis.

16. In change-speed mechanism, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft alined therewith, a lay .shaft parallel with said driving shaft and said driven shaft, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for plurality of gears on said driving shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said driving shaft, a pluralityof gears on said'driven shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said driven shaft, a plurality of gears on said lay shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said lay shaft opposite to the gears on the driving shaft,

a plurality of other gears on said lay shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said lay shaft opposite to the gears on the driven shaft, an idler gear adja-v cent to the gears on the driving shaft, means whereby said idler ,gear Vmay be adjusted axially and transversely to mesh with differentcombinations of the gears on the driving shaft and the gears opposite on the lay shaft, an idler gear adjacent to the gears-on the driven shaft, and Vmeans whereby this idler gear is adjustable axially and trans-V versely to mesh with different combinations of these gears on the driven shaft and the gears opposite on the lay shaft. i

l?. In change-speed mechanism, the combination of a. drivingshaft, a driven shaft alined therewith, a lay shaft parallel with said driving shaft and said driven shaft, a

`plurality of gears on said driving shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said drivingshaft, a pluralityof gears on said driven shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said driven shaft, a plurality of gears on said lay shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said lay shaft opposite to the gears on the driving shaft,

a plurality of other 0'ears on said lay shaft, each of different diameter, said gears being slidable along said lay shaft opposite to the gears on the driven shaft, an idler gear adjafor directly operatively connecting said` driven shaft to said driving shaft.

i ALPE-EUS FAY.

lVitnesses CLAREN on PnRDnw, CA'rHnRiNn DoiiAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,V Washington, D. C.

llO 

